Music box comb and sounding board construction



Aug. 4, 1953 T. R. DUNCAN 2,647,427

MUSIC BOX COME AND SOUNDING BOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. FIG. 2.

n |0 k 40 4| V3? 38 I9 12 no 25 lIIllIII/llliiiiiiii$11111)!!!rllilililllrllllllllfgf INVENTOR THEODORE R. DUNCAN WW M ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1953 DUNCAN 2,647,427

MUSIC BOX COMB AND SOUNDING BOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6.

FIG. 8.

INVENTOR THEODORE R. DUNCAN ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSIC BOX COMB AND SOUNDING BOARD CONSTRUCTION Theodore H. Duncan, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application March 4, 1950, Serial No. 147,602

19 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with music playing devices known as music boxes and embodying a music comb with teeth or vibrators and a plucking element for selectively actuating the vibrators.

An object of the invention is to provide an imtics, and the like, without requiring the use'of a wood or special sounding board.

A further object is to provide a music box construction which is adapted for use in low-cost mass production articles, such as toys, in that the construction permits the direct attachment by simple means of the music comb to any existing article having a relatively flat, thin casing or wall formed of metal, plastic, or other material. Another object of the invention is to provide a music box construction which results in facilitating the travel of tone or tonal vibrations throughout a relatively large area of a sounding board which may form a wall of the case of the music box.

. A still further object is to provide a construction which increases the range of sympathetic 5 response in sounding boards by providing areas sympathetic to a greater range of frequencies than is normally the case. In this connection it is known that in a music box with a large sounding board, the notes of lower frequencies often predominate, drowning out the notes in the middie and higher frequencies. With a medium-sized sounding board the middle register may, predominate with the bass and treble, being weak. In a very small box only the higher notes may be properly rendered.

It is therefore an object of my invention to increase effective response of any given sounding board both above and below the frequencies at which the member would ordinarily be most responsive.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an improved music comb which may be readily attached to a case, Wall or surface and when so attached imparts improved resonating qualities to such member.

A further object is to provide a music box construction which compels sound vibrations to travel in given directions throughout a large area of a sounding board.

Another object is to provide a music box construction which includes means for stressing or Warping a music box case or a part thereof, to increase the resonating quality of the boxas a whole without the aid of sound posts or the like. In this connection it is a particular object to provide a music comb having a curved base and means for attaching the comb to a sounding board, wall of the case, or the like in such a manner that the board or wall is stressed to a curved condition.

Another object is to provide means for amplifying the vibrations of a sounding board or resonating means.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and following description thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

' Fig. l is a plan view of a music box embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the cover of the case removed to expose the inner workings of the device;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

, Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 44 of Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a music'comb and sounding board embodying a, modified construction;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a music comb shown on a fragmentary portion of a sounding board illustrating another form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing another construction; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing a modified construction.

More particularly describing the invention, ref

'erence numeral [0 generally indicates the case of the music box which may comprise a cover II and a box-like portion l2. It is contemplated that ordinarily these parts will be sealed together or joined by any conventional means. The case It! may be made of any of a variety of materials, such as metal, a so-called plastic, wood, or cardboard.

I provide a music comb, generally indicated by I5, which has a base 16. This base is shown as somewhat U-shaped in cross section and in the upper portion of the base there are mounted a plurality of teeth or vibrators I8. These may be securely mounted in the base in any conventional way. The base includes arms l9 and 20 which are apertured to receive a crank 2| provided with an external handle 22. The crank actuates a rubber-like belt 25 provided with plucking. pro- 3 jections 26 adapted to selectively engage the tip ends of the vibrators l8. The member 25 extends around the crank and is supported at its other end on a shaft 28 mounted in slots 29 in a bracket 30 which is riveted at 3| to the bottom wall 32 of the case.

It is a particular feature of the invention that the base of the comb is provided with a convex curved surface 35 (Fig. 4). I provide the base with a pair of mounting ears 3'! one at each end thereof and rivets 38 are used for securely fastening the comb to the bottom wall of the case in such a manner that the wall is stressed and curved in the region of the base of the comb corresponding to the curvature of the surface 35 of the base of the comb. The lower wall of the case thus becomes a sounding board and it will be apparent that this construction provides a varied curvature to the entire lower wall 32.

I prefer to mount the base of the comb substantially across one corner of the lower wall in order to provide as great a length of wall 32 in a direction at right angles to the base from the comb as possible. In other words, I prefer to mount the comb base obliquely of the substantially rectangular wall 32, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. This provides a fan-like curvature of the lower wall as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2 and results in area magnification and amplitude increase of the sound vibrations.

While it is not essential, I have found that by forming a curved ridge in wall 32 behind the comb, such as the ridge 40, I can increase the quality of the lower wall as a sounding board and amplify the sound. Any stiffening means may be used in place of a ridge.

It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that behind the comb in the region 4| there is an intensely stressed area of relatively great curvature which is particularly responsive to the higher sound frequencies. On the opposite side of the comb the curvature gradually decreases as distance from the comb increases, thereby providing a resonating surface or sounding board which is adapted to be responsive to various frequencies. Also, by curving the wall 32 in the manner described. I provide a means of compelling the sound vibrations to travel substantially from one corner diagonally to the opposite corner of the musix box case. In addition, by deforming or warping the lower wall and stressing the same, I thereby stress or deform to some extent the entire case with the result that all walls or portions of the case tend to act as an integral sounding board and resonating means, thereby greatly improving the quality and volume of the sound.

While it is possible to successfully utilize various degrees of curvature in the base of the music comb, I have found that a comb having a length of 1 produces excellent results if the convexity of the curved surface is between .015" and .023. Also, it is desirable, in order to secure the best results, that the sounding board be securely fastened to the comb base and that it be in tight engagement with the comb base throughout the length thereof. For this reason I prefer a comb having a convexly curved section over which to attach the sounding board. However, as will appear, other shapes of bases may be used.

Referring to Fig. 6, I show a music comb 4| which is provided with a base having a concave surface 42. The sounding board 43 is secured in intimate contact with the surface 42 of the comb by means of rivets 43 and a clamp plate 44 which is preferably stiff and originally formed to the same curvature as the surface 42.

In Fig. 7, I show another construction wherein a music comb 5| has a flat base 52, and a spacer element 53 with a curved lower surface 54 is utilized between the comb and the sounding board 55. These parts are secured together by means of rivets 56. It will be apparent that this construction results in stressing the sounding board in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1-5.

In Fig. 8, I show a modified construction where in a music comb 6! having tapered under end surfaces 62 is secured to a sounding board 63 by rivets 64 and a spacer 55 interposed between the base of the comb and the board to curve the board. The spacer 55 may be formed on either the comb or the board or it may simply be a separate element as shown. Fig. 9, there is shown another form of the invention wherein the music comb H has its end surface 72 convexly curved and sound board 13 is secured thereto by rivets 14. While I mention rivets as the securing means, it is obvious that other types of fastening means may be used.

Although the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope thereof as indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a musical device, a music comb having a base and having elongated deflectable vibrators anchored in the base and extending therefrom substantially in a plane, said base being provided with a convexly curved surface on one side thereof longitudinally of the base, and a normally flat, thin resonator, and means securing said resonator to said comb against said curved surface in stressed curved condition.

2. In a msuical device, a thin, normally flat sounding board member, said member having an arcuate ridge on one side, a music comb positioned adjacent said ridge on the concave side thereof, and means securing said member to said comb in stressed, curved condition.

3. In a sound producing device, a vibrator member including a base and a vibratable element projecting therefrom, said base being provided with a non-planar curved surface, a normally flat, thin sounding board member, and means securing said sounding board member to said vibrator base against said curved surface, in stressed curved condition.

4. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a relatively rigid bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, and means for plucking said teeth in predetermined order to play a given melody, the bottom of said bar being convex downwardly, spaced fastening means holding said bar in intimate surface contact with a surface of said sounding board, the normal contour of said sounding board surface being such that said fastening means cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board.

5. A musical unit comprisin a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a relatively rigid bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a pluralityof pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, and means for plucking said teeth in predetermined order, to play a given melody, the bottom of said bar being convex downwardly, spaced fastening means holding said'bar in intimate surface contact with a surface of said sounding board, the normal contour of said sounding board surface being such that said fastening means cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said bar' to thereby set up stress'lines in said sounding board, said sounding board being formed with an arcuate rib in spaced relation to the back of said bar and arranged to direct said stress lines into substantially converging rela tion.

6. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a relatively rigid bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, a pair of parallel axles in spaced relation, one of'which is disposed in spaced relation with the common line of said teeth, an endless belt disposed over said axle having means on the outer surface thereof adapted to pluck said teeth upon the rotation of said axle, the bottom of said bar being convex downwardly, spaced fastening means holding said bar in intimate surface contact with a surface of said sounding board, the normal contour of said sounding board surface being such that said fastening means cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board.

'7. A musical unit comprisin a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a relatively rigid bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, a pair of parallel axles, one of which is disposed in spaced relation with the common line of said pluckable teeth, an endless belt disposed over said axles having means on the outer surface thereof adapted to pluck said teeth upon the rotation of said axles, the bottom of said bar being convex downwardly, spaced fastening means holding said bar in intimate surface contact with a surface of said sounding board, the normal contour of said sounding board surface being such that said fastening means cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board, said sounding board being formed with an arcuate rib in spaced relation to the back of said bar and arranged to direct said stress lines into substantially converging relation.

8. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a relatively rigid bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, a forwardly extending arm at each end of said bar having axially aligned apertures at the outer ends thereof, an axle rotatably disposed through said apertures in spaced relation from and parallel to said common line of said pluckable teeth, an endless belt disposed over' said axle having plucking fingers on the outer surface thereof, said fingers being adapted to pluck said teeth upon the rotation of said axle, the bottom of said bar being convex downwardly, spaced fastening means holding said'bar in intimate surface contact with a surface of said sounding board, the normal contour of said sounding board surface being such that said fastening means cause said sounding board to warp' upon being secured to said bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board.

9. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable' teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a relatively rigid bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, a for wardly extending arm at each end of said bar having axially aligned apertures at the outer ends thereof, an axle rotatably disposed through said apertures in spaced relation'from and parallel to said common line of said pluckable teeth, a second axle disposed in spaced relation to said first axle and parallel thereto, an endless belt disposed over said axles having plucking fingers on the outer surface thereof, said belt being adapted to travel past said pluckable teeth so that said fingers-will pluck said teeth upon the rotation of said axle, the bottom of said bar being convex downwardly, spaced fastenin means holding said bar inintimate surface contact with asurface of said sounding board, the normal contour of said sounding boardsurface being such that said fastening means cause said sounding board towarp upon being secured to said bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board, said sounding board being formed with an arouate rib in spaced relation to the back of said bar and arranged to direct said stress lines into sub stantially converging relation; e 10. A -musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, sound producing means having a relatively rigid mounting bar and pluckable teeth secured to said sounding board in intimate surface contact therewith at at least threespaced points, the means defining said spaced points on said mounting bar and said sounding board lying in surfaces normally of different contours, spaced fastening means holding said surfaces in intimate contact and effective to cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said relatively rigid bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board.

11. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, sound producing means having a relatively rigid mounting bar and pluckable teeth secured to said sounding board in intimate surface contact therewith, the contacting surface of said mounting bar being convex toward said sounding board and of a different contour from the normal contour of said sunding board, spaced fastening means holding said surfaces in intimate contact and effective to cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said relatively rigid bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board.

12. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexib sounding board, s und producin mea s having a relatively rigid mounting bar and pluckable teeth secured to said sounding board in intimate surface .contact therewith at at least three spaced points, the means defining said spaced points on said mounting bar and said sounding board lying in surfaces normally of different contours, spaced fastening means holding said surfaces in intimate contact and effective to cause said sounding board to warp upon being secured to said relatively rigid bar to thereby set up stress lines in said sounding board, said sounding board being formed with an arcuate rib adjacent said sound producing means and arranged to direct said stress lines into converging relation.

13. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a bar having a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from one edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, said bar having a forwardly extending arm at each end thereof having axially aligned apertures at the outer ends thereof, an axle rotatably disposed through said apertures in spaced relation from and parallel to said common line of said pluckable teeth, an endless belt disposed over said axle having plucking fingers on the outer surface thereof, said fingers being adapted to pluck said teeth upon the rotation of said axle, and spaced fastening means holding said bar in intimate surface contact with a surface of said sounding board.

14. A musical unit comprising a relatively flexible sounding board, a melody comb having pluckable teeth secured thereto, said comb comprising a bar having a bottom, front and back edges, a plurality of pluckable teeth in parallel spaced relation extending from the front edge of said bar, each of which has a free end terminating in a common line, said bar having a forwardly extending arm at each end thereof having axially aligned apertures at the outer ends thereof, an axle rotatably disposed through said apertures in spaced relation from and parallel to said common line of said pluckable teeth a second axle disposed in spaced relation to said first axle and parallel thereto, an endloss belt disposed over said axles having plucking fingers on the outer surface thereof, said belt being adapted to travel past said pluckable teeth so that said fingers will pluck said teeth upon the rotation of said axle, and spaced fastening means holding said bar in intimate surface contact with a surface .of said sounding board.

15. In a music box construction, a music comb having elongated vibrator teeth and a base portion, said base portion having a non-planar curved surface, a flexible sounding board, and fastening means holding said curved surface of said comb in intimate contact with a surface of said board, the normal contour of said sounding board surf-ace being such that said fastening means causes said sounding board to warp being secured to said curved surface of said comb. I

16. A device as defined in claim 15 in which said noni-planar curved surface on the base of said comb is convex.

17. A device as defined in claim 15 in which said non-planar curved surface on the base of said comb is concave.

18. A device as defined in claim 15 in which said base of said comb is positioned non-centrally of said sounding board.

19. A device as defined in claim 15 in which said sounding board is substantially rectangular and in which said comb base is positioned obliquely thereon in one corner thereof.

THEODORE R. DUNCAN.

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 237,355 Woolley Feb. 1, 1881 2,478,692 Stein V Aug. 9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 36,540 Sweden Apr. 15, 191-4 1.05.835 Germany 5 M. 29, 1.89.9 

